News about National Bank

Banks and non-bank organizations providing payment services will be required to take additional measures to reduce the risk of money laundering and terrorist financing when opening subsidiaries and branches.

In April 2026, the net demand of economic agents (legal entities) for foreign currency in Moldova was covered by the net supply from individuals by 80.5%. This indicator shows a decrease compared to March, when the level of coverage amounted to 92.0%. The main indicators and tendencies of the foreign exchange market, according to the official reports of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), were formed under the influence of business activity recovery and servicing of external liabilities.

Moldova’s insurance market in 2025 was characterized by growth in premiums (up to 3.35 billion lei, +3.1% vs. 2024), record payouts and a sharp drop in net profit.

“The Governor of the National Bank of the Republic of Moldova, Anca Dragu, told us about her career in national and European institutions, the concrete impact of Moldova’s accession to SEPA, the role of women in leadership positions and the European stakes for Moldova. She said that the professional path is built step by step, that public decisions must be taken with responsibility and that the Republic of Moldova “belongs” to the European Union.

The Ministry of Finance supports, with minor reservations, the initiative of PAS deputy Dorian Istratii, which changes the rules for acquiring large stakes in non-banking payment organizations and strengthens the control of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM).

The National Bank of Moldova (NBM) reopens its doors to the public within the framework of the “European Night of Museums”. The event will take place on May 23, 2026, from 16:00 to 23:00 in the building of the National Bank of Moldova.

The National Bank of Moldova (NBM) is developing its internal management system based on artificial intelligence, as well as an AI-based internal assistant used for quick access to institutional information, data analysis and processing, integrated SupTech initiatives and digital infrastructure. This was announced by Anca Dragu, Head of the NBM, at the Tech Talks 2026 international conference held in Timisoara, dedicated to the dialog on the role of innovation in enhancing competitiveness.

Moldovan banks will have to implement new international sustainability standards and strengthen risk management. These are the main changes and amendments contained in the draft amendments to the Regulation on the Fundamentals of Banks’ Activity Management.

Excess liquidity becomes an additional factor of inflation acceleration. When people and companies, as well as the banking system, have more money on hand than is necessary to service the current volume of goods and services, unsecured demand grows faster, which leads to higher prices.

The rights and duties, including responsibilities of credit bureaus will be revised and expanded. Clear requirements for the bureau’s authorized capital have been defined. It should be at least 10 million lei, with at least 30% of it covered by own funds.

The victims of road accidents caused by an unidentified or uninsured vehicle will receive 10.2 million lei from the protection fund during 2025, of which 90 per cent will be used to compensate for material damage and 10 per cent for bodily injuries.

The National Bank is stepping up efforts to transition to “environmentally friendly” credit instruments, which should give borrowers significant advantages and enter the country’s “green transition” system in accordance with European requirements. The Central Bank is already holding training seminars with professional participants in the banking system to assess such business initiatives and create appropriate financial conditions for green loans.

Leading economic experts consistently argue that classic monetary methods of the National Bank are ineffective against the current inflation. It is not about money. And even – not in their quantity. It is about the economic sovereignty of the country.

Through brokers and insurance agents, 61.9% of all insurance premiums in the country in 2025 were written.

According to the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), the official reserve assets at the end of April 2026 amounted to 5,209.83 million euros, decreasing by 56.71 million euros year-on-year. The main factors for the decrease were the depreciation of the dollar against the euro (40.69 million euros) and payments for servicing the external public debt (21.53 million euros).

The National Bank of Moldova increased the prime rate by 1.5 p.p. at once. – From 5% to 6.5% – to prevent inflation growth against the background of rising world prices caused a lot of questions and comments of experts.

The increase of the prime rate by the National Bank of Moldova from 5% to 6.5% has caused mixed reactions among MPs. Some consider the measure necessary to curb inflation, while others warn of negative consequences for investment, lending and living standards.

The Executive Committee of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), at its meeting held on May 7, 2026, unanimously increased the prime rate by 1.5 percentage points at once, in order to prevent the risks of increasing inflationary pressure amid the global price situation.

Anca Dragu, Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), has outlined Moldova’s prospects for capital market and mortgage development. Dragu made a speech entitled “Mortgage lending in Moldova: market perspectives and development directions” in Stavanger, Norway, where she is participating in the 38th plenary meeting of the European Council for Secured Bonds (ECSB).

The number of payments made with cards issued in Moldova continues to grow.